I am Japanese documentary director!

Rachel Antell has worked in documentary film production for over two decades in various capacities, but found her true passion in archival producing. In 2014 she co-founded Sub-Basement Archival, where she has had the honor of being archival producer on contemporary and historic documentaries. Sub-Basement films have aired on streaming platforms, cable, public and network television, screened at festivals worldwide, and garnered FOCAL Awards as well as an Emmy nomination for research and use of archival footage. In 2023, Rachel co-founded the Archival Producers Alliance (APA) with Jen Petrucelli and Steph Jenkins. The APA was created to organize and advocate for archival producers, educate the larger film community about the craft, and work to make archival materials more accessible and affordable for independent filmmakers. The APA's first initiative addresses the introduction of Generative AI into the field of documentary film and archival work. In September of this year, the APA published the first-ever industry-wide guidelines, Best Practices for Use of Generative AI in Documentaries, with endorsements from over 50 organizations, foundations, production companies, and film festivals, as well as dozens of filmmakers.

Jen Rainin founded Frankly Speaking Films with Rivkah Beth Medow to tell mesmerizing stories about strong queer women. Together, they created the feature documentary AHEAD OF THE CURVE (Netflix), the Oscar® shortlisted short documentary HOLDING MOSES (The New Yorker), Berlinale Grand Prix winner HUMMINGBIRDS (2023, POV), QUEER FUTURES (2024, The Criterion Collection), and OUTCRY: Alchemists of Rage (2024, festivals). Jen is a Film Independent fellow whose other credits include HOMEROOM (EP: Hulu), TWO SPIRITS (EP: Independent Lens), SHIT & CHAMPAGNE (EP: Hulu). With her wife, Jen co-founded The Curve Foundation to champion LGBTQ+ women’s stories and culture through intergenerational programming and community building.

Josh Penn is a producer with the Department of Motion Pictures. He has been nominated for an Oscar for Best Picture and Outstanding Producer at the Producers Guild Awards. He also won a Peabody Award and the Sundance Producers Award. Since 2012, he has premiered a dozen films at Sundance, earning six awards from the festival. His productions include BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD (Sundance Grand Jury Prize, Cannes Caméra d’Or, and four Oscar nominations, including Best Picture), 32 SOUNDS (Oscar Shortlist), MONSTERS AND MEN (Sundance Special Jury Prize), the series PHILLY D.A. (Gotham and Peabody Award winner), among others. Josh has mentored at institutions such as The Sundance Institute, Film Independent, NYU, and AFI. Josh is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Outside of film, Josh has worked in politics including leading roles on the digital teams for both Obama presidential campaigns.

Fenell Doremus is an Emmy Award winning producer with deep connections in the Chicago documentary community. Credits include: the Academy Award nominated and Emmy Award winning, ABACUS: Small Enough to Jail, (2017); producer and director Mr. Doremus Does What He Can (2024); COOKED: Survival by Zip Code (2020); Field Producer Ringside (2019); City So Real (2019); producer, director and editor on A YEAR ON TEEN STREET (2005); and segment producer and co-editor of THE NEW AMERICANS (2004). Fenell served on the Kartemquin Films board of directors from 2018-2024 and has been a member of the Documentary Producers Alliance since 2017 - current Chair, Regional Committee and Co-rep for the Midwest. She is also an adjunct professor at DePaul University's School of Cinematic Arts.